The new superintendent of the Ventura Unified School District hopes to heal the schism that formed in the district after David Creswell’s resignation in December.

The school board announced Tuesday night that Roger Rice would take the helm at the district beginning March 1.

Rice has been deputy and associate superintendent of student services at the Ventura County Office of Education for the past decade. Before his years of service at the county, Rice was the assistant superintendent of human resources in the Oxnard Union High School District.

“I think my top priority is to do a whole lot of listening and a whole lot of networking,” Rice, 55, told The Star on Wednesday morning. “I think healing is probably the No. 1 priority, I recognize that the district has been through contentious times.”

The board unanimously voted to appoint Rice in closed session Tuesday. The board had previously met in closed session with no report out on Friday.

“The community was very clear in their request that the new superintendent be someone who will advocate for all students, who has experience working with at-risk and marginalized youth, and who will effectively communicate with our students, staff and community,” school board President Sabrena Rodriguez said in a written statement. “When considering whether to spend several months and thousands of dollars conducting its third search in four years, the board agreed to look first at local candidates with a proven track record of working with and for all students. Dr. Rice immediately came to mind — having been a highly regarded finalist in the previous Superintendent search.”

As part of his county office duties, Rice oversees alternative education, career education, special education, special population, charter schools and student competitions. Recently, he’s served on a state committee that is designing the new accountability system for alternative education schools.

The March 1 start date will allow Rice to finish up some important tasks at the county office before transitioning to Ventura.

“I wouldn’t want to leave the county holding the bag on those things,” Rice said. “I want for that success to continue.”

Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Stan Mantooth said in an email to staff Wednesday that the news is “bittersweet.”

“To say that he will be sorely missed is a tremendous understatement,” Mantooth said. “Nonetheless, I am convinced that the VUSD has made a most intelligent and pragmatic decision and that Dr. Rice has, in turn, made what will be an appropriate and career fulfilling choice of his own.”

Before his time in Oxnard Union, Rice was a high school principal, a dean, a classroom teacher, coach and gang and substance-abuse intervention resource adviser.

Rice, in a tweet Tuesday night, said he was “humbled and incredibly grateful” for his upcoming role in Ventura Unified, a sentiment he echoed Wednesday morning.

Sorry for the delayed post, teaching class @CalLutheran tonight. So humbled and incredibly grateful for the opportunity at Ventura Unified and blessed beyond words at the show our support. Thanks to everyone whose reached out to me this evening.

Many education leaders from principals to superintendents in the county congratulated Rice on social media Tuesday night and said he was the right man for the job.

“I’m extremely humbled,” Rice said. “There’s a risk to having a shorter search process and I was a little bit worried but to have that outpouring (on social media) was overwhelming.”

The superintendent position was left vacant after a scandal surrounding a sermon Creswell gave before becoming superintendent in Ventura in which he mentioned a gay couple and a transgender individual from a high school yearbook in a way some viewed as disparaging surfaced.

Creswell announced his resignation Nov. 30, and his last day was Dec. 21. He had been superintendent of the district for just under a year and a half. Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Jeff Davis was appointed by the board to fill in as interim superintendent.

In the board statement, Rodriguez said Rice looks forward to working with staff members, students and the community.

“He has demonstrated himself to be a conscientious, collaborative leader who has invested in his own professional training on issues that directly impact students — cultural proficiency, equity and access, IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) training, creating professional learning communities, restorative practices and more,” according to the statement.

Jeff Baarstad, a retired superintendent of the Conejo Valley Unified School District, will serve as interim until March 1. Davis will remain interim until Monday and then return to his position of assistant superintendent of human resources with the Ventura district.

Ventura Unified Education Association President Dan Nelson said in a statement to The Star that he’s confident in the board’s decision to bring Rice to the district.

“He is highly regarded in the county for good reason,” Nelson said. “He has a reputation for working to bring what is best to the students. We believe he will bring great things to the students, staff, and families of VUSD.”

Ruben Galindo, president of the Ventura Education Support Professionals Association, said he was happy to hear the district would be moving forward with Rice as its leader.

“I hope to have a meeting with Roger soon so that we can start working together to make VUSD the best district it can be for all students and staff members,” Galindo said.

Rice’s contract details a three-year term at a base salary of $227,500.